How’d you do yesterday??
If you guessed carpet, you got it right! 😉
See you again on Monday for reading and next Friday for another New Angle! 😊
Author: The WheatandTares
Friday’s New Angle #51
Are you ready for another New Angle?? 😊
See you right here tomorrow for the answer!
The Crossroads
I think I have been relearning a lesson lately…
When we are seeking for inner change, and we are faced with our moment of exponential growth, we are faced with two choices. What we choose in that moment will determine if we move forward or start moving backwards, and sometimes, our choice will determine our ultimate success or failure. There is a crossroads set before us, and the road we choose will make all the difference.
Have you ever been there?
When we are seeking to be better, whether it be in weight training, ballet, education, acting, playing golf or even eating and health issues, there will always come a time, many times, actually, when the learning and the growth becomes almost painful to continue. It feels as if the choice to continue will surely be the death of our current state of being, and in actuality, it is kind of a death. It is at that moment when we must realize that our choice to “bow out” or to turn back to the more comfortable places will actually be detrimental to our overall growth, and in some cases, it can mean death to the dream or goal we have set.
When I, personally, come to this crossroad, this fork in the road, I am reminded of the poem written by Robert Frost many many years ago, “The Road Not Taken.*” This is one of my all time favorites, and I’ve referred to it often in my life experiences. He says, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.*” No matter which road you choose, each path leads you forward to a new place, or you can attempt to turn back from whence you came, and you may cripple the person you are to become. Just as a child, once grown, can never truly return to the little boy he once was, I cannot return to my former self without losing the strength, faith and understanding I have come to find in walking through these crossroads.
So, I choose to walk forward, to take this crossroad set before me, no matter the challenge it presents or the obstacles I may face tomorrow. The crossroad signifies a demarkation from what and who I was to what and whom I will become. I will keep moving forward, keep exploring and continuing to discover this new world, these new experiences and this new me to find who it is I am to become and to whom I will leave it all when my day has come.
*Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/road-not-taken
Photo: I do not possess nor do I own this photo. Simply found on Google Images from http://www.thebusinesswomanmedia.com/how-to-create-career-clarity-at-a-crossroad
Feeling a Little “Blah?”
Do you ever just wake up some days and feel, “blah?” You think about it and realize you had a good night sleep. You didn’t have a fight with your spouse. Your kids are actually following rules and doing the things they need to do, and the clouds aren’t even gray or threatening a rain shower. Yet, you just can’t seem to get past the gray skies within your heart, and your brain is getting tired trying to figure out why you’re not as chipper as the birds flying above.
Sometimes, we just have days when we feel a little off, where things don’t seem to be as they should within our hearts and minds. On days like this, I have found I have to put forth a little more effort to chase away those gray clouds. I have to move beyond my normal routine and “push back” against those bluesy feelings. If I don’t, I find myself slipping further down as the day prolongs.
On days like this, I am so thankful I have hope for which to live. I am so grateful to be a child of a loving Father who cares even about my “bummed out” moments. I am so glad I am able to run to Him and find His arms open wide. He is always there awaiting our desire to be with Him. He is always ready and willing to listen and to help us through those tough spots.
He is ready to give us HOPE, LOVE, PEACE and JOY. All we have to do is show up before Him. It’s not a formula we must follow. It’s not a list of perfection we must check. It’s not even a policy of dos and don’ts to which we must adhere.
It’s a relationship with an Almighty God Who loves us beyond conditions. It’s a moment of truth when He confronts our heart with change, and it’s an overwhelming sense of grace when He shows us His mercy and love, for our sins are completely washed away.
His joy is overflowing and more dependable than sheer happiness.
His peace is surpassing all circumstance and happenstance.
His love is unconditional beyond our sins and failures.
His hope is everlasting past the ages of time.
Won’t you join Him today in this hope? Won’t you release your fear and anger to Him and let Him guide you to a brighter tomorrow?
Tuesday’s Treats #1
If you missed the blog last week, this is my new weekly event, and I’d love for you to read about it here. This week, I’m excited to share with you one of our favorite treats! 🙂
Location: Pensacola Beach, Fl
One of our favorite places to eat is Peg Leg Pete’s on Pensacola Beach, Florida. It is located right on the beach, and if you don’t get there early, even in the off season, you may have to wait! Lots of the locals come here to grab a bite for lunch, and it is so worth the wait!!
Note: You do get double the amount of grouper fingers than what is pictured!! We had just dove right in, and I almost forgot to take the pic! 😉
My husband always follows it with a delicious grouper sandwich, and I always get the Charbroiled Mahi Mahi with snow peas, rice pilaf and dill sauce. I don’t even like snow peas, but I eat every single one as I dip them in that yummy dill sauce! Then, for dessert, we each order our own slice of key lime pie. Oh. My. Word. Is it delish! Now, that key lime pie is not homemade there, but it is still delicious!
The atmosphere is cool and very casual. There is outside, covered patio seating, as well as, indoor tables and booths. The service is always friendly and prompt, and the prices are moderate.
You can check out their menu here. When you get finished with lunch or dinner, just drive down a few 100 feet and take a walk along the beach! 😊🏖
A letter to My Pregnant Self…
If I could go back to when I was pregnant with JGrizz, I would tell myself a few things to be remembered…
Decide, now, you will not sleep for the first three months, and then, when you get that first 30 minute nap, it will be absolutely glorious!
Everything you need to know won’t always be found in a book, given by your doctor, or even spoken by your mother. Sometimes, you’ll just have to follow your instincts.
There will be a time, your instincts will be proven wrong. This doesn’t mean you’re a failure, and this doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. It means you’re human. It means you’re normal.
The house can’t always be kept clean. Toys seem to come alive in the night and find their way back to the living room before you awake. Learn to organize on a very small scale…very small…like one toy in one basket…at any given time.
One boy can have the volume of a surround sound system on level 55. Two boys can create a front row rock concert experience at 7:00 am. and, again, at 11:30pm.
When your three year old little boy refuses to come down from the Chic-Fil-A slide, it really does not mean you’re a terrible mom…Really.
That day when you have to literally step over your two and a half year old who is pitching a fit on sidewalk, in the front of the church, it does not mean you have failed at parenting. It means you are being brave and strong.
Enjoy those little scribbles and backward letters and upside down numbers … even when you find them on the bedroom wall. For one day, your child will be getting ready to apply for colleges far away from home.
Cherish those moments your two year old rides his Little Tykes motorized Harley in the backyard, for one day, way too soon, he will be talking about his soon coming birthday when he can get his license or driver’s permit.
There will be days when you just drink that cup of coffee and simply survive…and have one more cup of coffee to just make it till your early bedtime.
Find an outlet for your stress. Make time for you…even if it takes scheduling that night out on the calendar, and daddy has to keep the baby. He can do it. He loves that baby, too.
Make time for you and daddy, too. Dating your man IS important. If you and he don’t love each other, your child may not get to see what a great marriage is all about.
Most of all, make time for God, and this doesn’t have to be hours on end spent in the Upper Room. There will be seasons, especially when those babies are little, when devotions will come in snatches of time…it might be a Scripture today that brings peace to your weary mind, a Bible story tomorrow read from a children’s book that brings strength to your heart, and your favorite pastor’s sermon on Sunday morning which brings conviction and healing to your wounded soul.
God’s not about the rules, regulations and perfection. He wants a relationship. He wants to hear your thoughts. He wants to consume your heart. He loves you, and He wants to help you be the best mom you can be. He wants you to know He loves you and that YOU ARE ENOUGH!
Let me say it again, YOU ARE ENOUGH. This being a mom bit is CRAZY hard, but it is so very worth it!! … Be real. Be you. Find God in the chaos and hang on…Hang onto Him with all you’ve got, and you’ll make it.
“You just be you, and God will take care of the rest.” – Bones, Moms’ Night Out
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
Answer to Friday’s Angle #50
Did you guess it yesterday??
This one might have been pretty tricky if you’ve never seen one before… It’s a ladder, but it’s a very different kind of ladder…
This is located inside he Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fl. If you’ve never been there, it’s quite an experience! They have so many naval air crafts from all the wars. Here is the write up on this particular ladder…you can click on it and zoom in to read about it.
Friday’s New Angle #50
It’s time for another Friday’s Angle, and today marks the 50th one! I hope you’ve had fun with these!! 😊 Thanks for playing!
Remember, the answer will be posted here tomorrow. 😊
With or Without Hope
I’ve read several posts lately from those who are grieving and who are lonely. I’ve been there, in that lonely place, struggling to survive the pain…
These posts make my heart sad, not because the bloggers are heartbroken or grief-stricken, but because so many grieve with no hope. For without hope, we have no purpose in the pain. We have no future beyond the pain. Without hope, it is all just meaningless and worthless. Without hope, life doesn’t seem worth living.
Yet, where there is hope, there is life beyond the pain. There is a purpose through the pain, and there is some semblance of meaning that we can try to grasp. There is something more that is worth holding onto.
It doesn’t mean we will never experience the pain, only that, deep down, we have a knowing that we will live BEYOND the pain, because there is something MORE for which to live.
Hope is a powerful thing. Without it, life is just a survival game.
Hope causes our spirit to fight. Hope causes our mind not to give up. Hope causes our body to push forward behind normal limits. Hope causes us to thrive.
…Thriving is so much more fun than simply surviving.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
My Heart Says
Lord, guide and guard my heart…
I step out on faith, and I feel the whirlwind.
The gusts attempt to break my tired feet.
My anger tempts me to turn and not to bend,
But my heart says not to give in to the defeat.
I walk on not knowing where this will go;
This storm rages all around my weary head.
My sin tempts me to rebel so You will not know,
But my heart says to remember what You have said.
I run into Your loving arms, still fearing all Your wrath;
The rains are pouring down now on top of me.
My fears tempt me to put on this shiny mask,
But my heart says to uncover and allow You to see.
I stand in the great shadow of Your grace;
These clouds are cleansing from within me now.
My heart tempts me to hide my prideful face,
But my heart says to…
View original post 10 more words
the grizzle grist mill 